Garlic Rasam(Soup)

If you have a garlic lover in the house, this is the perfect recipe for them. You could make it with as much or as little garlic as you want. It is a perfect concoction for someone with a cold. I made this last week for my husband who was recovering from one. I never used to like garlic in rasam. But, I tried this at my sister's, and loved it.

Ingredients:

1/2 C tamarind extract(1 t tamarind paste mixed in water)

3-4 cloves garlic

1 t ghee

1 tomato, chopped

3 green chili,slit

1 t sambar powder

1/2 t asafoetida

4 curry leaves,

cilantro, chopped

salt to taste

1/2 t rasam powder

mustard seesds for seasoning

Method:

1. Place the tomato, chili and curry leaves in a bowl. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and mash well with hand. Add the tamarind extract and sambar powder and mix. Keep aside.

2. In a 2 quart saucepan, season the mustard seeds in 1 teaspoon ghee. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add the tomato mixture. Add asafoetida, and 1/2 cup water. Simmer till the smell of sambar powder leaves. Add the chopped cilantro and rasam powder. Bring it to a boil. Remove from the stove. Serve hot in a cup or over white rice.